Here I agreeA recent opinion piece in the hillAbout Antisementism and Teachers’ Unions: Schools should have a safe place for all students and all teachers. Antisementism, like all forms of hatred, should be protested and educated against it. It has no place in our schools.
Where I disagree, it is that the unions of teachers are deranged of the situation that is characterized by the story.
In the American Federation of Teachers, where I am President, we prioritize fighting all kinds of hatred. Married to a rabbi as a Jewish woman, I take Antisemitism very seriously. And I know that since October 7, the situation in our schools has become only worse.
Violence against Jews, attempts to call or marginalize Jewish students or teachers, feeling insecure in campuses or community, are unconscious tasks that should be challenged. This hatred has made a similarity Increase in hate and extremism Overall, with the rise of democratic works that promotes himself by President Trump.
I believe that everyone in the Jewish community is safe in America which is strongly democratic. Therefore, I have spent my entire career strengthening my democracy and promoting inclusion in our classrooms.
This is why I have consistently led the American Federation of Teachers A unique partnership To teach our teachers with the Jewish Council for public affairs to ensure how to ensure safe and welcoming classes and create relations between the local people of our union, local Jewish community and communal leaders.
Teachers’ unions are blamed for school syllabus, but it simply does not catch. In most examples, it is the local education board, state and local elected officers and municipal or state education departments who determine the syllabus – not teachers’ unions.
Where teachers partner with local authorities, they often respond significantly, but ignoring how the education decision is actually to score anti-union political points will not help any student or teacher to protect.
And, where the American Federation of Teachers can influence the course, we educate against antismitism and all kinds of hatred. For example, we offerA special shared my text coursesOn fighting antisementism and promoting Holocost education, which is easily available to all teachers online.
At the same time, we are disappointed that the Trump administration is destroying many institutions and equipment that we need to protect Jews and all weak students. Secretary Linda McMahon claims to give priority Fight against antisementismBut in the demand to close the education department, that is Stop your office for civil rights,
I will welcome the partnership of critics in the fight to keep the department and this important office open. But so far, the same critics who go after the teachers’ unions have not raised their voice to support the healing required for the safety of their students.
The office of civil rights is the office where Jewish students can seek assistance, yet the administration is removing the devices that we all need to ensure safe classes for all children, embracing the rhetoric of the fight against antisemitism.
Instead of taking out the same old tired attacks on those of us, who are dedicated to teaching and saving children, why not with us in ensuring safe and nutritious environment?
Talmud has a famous concept – whoever saves a life, saves the whole world. Each child in the class is like a whole world. This is an predecessor I take with me every day in my job. It inspires me to do what I do – help about 2 million of our members to engage in public service for this and future generations.
Randy Wayingerton is the chairman of the American Federation of Teachers.
